Photoelectrocatalytic humic acid degradation kinetics and effect of pH,applied potential and inorganic ions

This study addresses the removal of humic acid (HA) dissolved in an aqueous medium by a photoelectrocatalytic process. UV₂₅₄ removal and the degradation of color (Vis₄₀₀) followed pseudo‐first order kinetics. Rate constants were 1.1 × 10^?1 min^?1, 8.3 × 10^?2 min^?1 and 2.49 × 10^?2 min^?1 (R² > 0.97) for UV₂₅₄ degradation and 1.7 × 10^?1 min^?1, 6.5 × 10^?2 min^?1 and 2.0 × 10^?2 min^?1 for color removal from 5 mg dm^?3, 10 mg dm^?3 and 25 mg dm^?3 HA respectively. Following a 2 h irradiation time, 96% of the color, 98% of the humic acid and 85% of the total organic carbon (TOC) was removed from an initial 25 mg dm^?3 HA solution in the photoanode cell. Photocatalytic removal on the same photoanode was also studied in order to compare the two methods of degradation. Results showed that the photoelectrocatalytic method was much more effective than the photocatalytic method especially at high pH values and with respect to UV₂₅₄ removal. The effect of other important reaction variables, eg pH, external potential and electrolyte concentration, on the photoelectrocatalytic HA degradation was also studied. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Potential of microbial growth control in water hydraulic systems by UV‐irradiation and filtration

Water hydraulic systems use water as a pressure medium and, thus, do not pose such adverse environmental impacts as oil hydraulics. Microbial deterioration of the pressure medium and biofouling of the surfaces restrict the applicability of the water‐based technology. The potential of microbial growth control by UV‐irradiation and filtration was studied in a pilot‐scale water hydraulic system. The UV‐irradiation (25 m Ws cm^?2) of the pressure medium reduced the total viable counts of bacteria by 1–2 log₁₀ cfu cm^?3, whereas the total microbial cell numbers and the numbers of surface‐attached microorganisms remained unaffected. Prefiltration (1.2 µm, absolute) of the pressure medium decreased the total microbial cell number in the water phase and retarded the attachment of bacteria. The filtration during the operation (2 µm, absolute) decreased the total numbers of microbial cells and the total viable counts in the pressure medium, and microbial attachment on the surfaces. Microbial attachment was not prevented by filtration. The microbial water quality obtained by pre‐ and on‐line filtration of the pressure medium was sufficient to ensure the long‐term operation of the water hydraulic system assuming that clean work practices are complied with in assembly and during the operation. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

NMR imaging and differential scanning calorimetry study on drying of pine,birch, and reed pulps and their mixtures

Drying, water fractions, and water distribution were investigated for pine, birch, and reed pulps and pine–birch, pine–reed, and pine–birch–reed pulp mixtures. Gravimetrically determined drying times showed that the drying rates of the pulps decreased at two to four inflection points. Characterizations of the dried pulps by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed a faster removal of free water than freezing and nonfreezing bound waters; all decreased simultaneously, however. DSC also revealed the critical water contents at which the free water and freezing bound water disappeared. The gravimetrically determined inflection points of the drying curves corresponded with the critical points determined by DSC. NMR line widths and images produced by ¹H‐NMR imaging revealed the nature and regions of the pulp drying. The constant growth rate of the NMR line widths with decreasing water content appeared to change at two inflection points, which fell approximately in the same water content regions as the inflection points of the drying curves. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 937–945, 2006     

Biodegradable Microparticles for Simultaneous Detection of Counterfeit and Deteriorated Edible Products

In an era of globalized trade relations where food and pharmaceutical products cross borders effortlessly, consumers face counterfeit and deteriorated products at elevated rates. This paper presents multifunctional, biodegradable hydrogel microparticles that can provide information on the authenticity and the potential deterioration of the tagged food or pharmaceutical formulations. These microparticles integrate spatially patterned authenticity code with two sensors—the first one detects possible presence of pathogenic microbes through monitoring pH while the second one identifies products stored above optimal temperatures via optical monitoring of the microparticle degradation. Particles are synthesized from a biocompatible polymer and a photoinitiator, dextran modified with 2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate and riboflavin, respectively, using a continuous, high throughput method stop‐flow lithography. The proposed synthesis approach also enables crosslinking with visible light bringing about additional flexibility to flow lithography. Model liquid and solid food and pharmaceutical products are successfully labeled with microparticles and the functionality of the sensors in aqueous solutions is demonstrated.     

Dynamic programming based multi-stage optimization of shunt capacitors in radial distribution systems

Contents In this paper, a new optimal procedure of the general compensation problem is proposed, by minimizing the performance criterion depending on both active power and energy losses, and by taking into account cost of shunt capacitor banks and system voltage constraints. The new solution method represents a combinatorial searching procedure, with non-differentiable optimization criterion, by using the multi-stage optimization based on dynamic programming. The applications of the method to three different test system have shown important improvements in the sense of speed and effectiveness of calculations, when compared to previously advertised solution methods.

---

Mehrstufige Optimierung der Parallelkondensatoren in radialen Verteilungsnetzen mittels dynamisch Programmierung

Übersicht In diesem Artikel wird ein neues Verfahren für die allgemeine Blindleistungkompensation vrgestellt. Das Verfahren basiert auf der Minimierung der Optimalitätsbedingung, die Funktion der Wirkleistung und der Energieverluste ist. Die Kosten der Kondensatorbänke und die Betriebsgrenzen der Netzspannungen werden auch berücksichtigt. Die neue Methode stellt ein kombinatorisches Suchverfahren mit nicht-diffenzierbarer Optimalitätsbedingung dar. Dabei wird die mehrstufige Optimierung verwendet die auf der dynamischen Programmierung basiert. Die Bewertung der Methode mittels dreier Testnetze zeigt wichtige Verbesserungen bezüglich Schnelligkeit und Güte der Berechnung, im Vergleich zur früher veröffentlichten Methoden.

     

Responses of the autonomic nervous system during periods of perceived high and low work stress in younger and older female teachers

The aim of this study was to examine the response of the autonomic nervous system in younger (mean age 31 yrs, n=14) and older (mean age 54 yrs, n=14) healthy female teachers during work periods of perceived high and low stress. In the younger participants, heart rate, cortisol excretion rate and psychosomatic symptoms were significantly higher during the high work stress period. The older participants experienced no decrease in their heart rate and cortisol excretion during the low stress period and they exhibited no significant decrease in blood pressure after the work in the evening during both periods. It may be concluded that the recovery from the stress in the older teachers was insufficient particularly in view of their elevated diastolic blood pressure during the low work stress period. Ergonomic and individually tailored measures in terms of work time control, specific relaxation techniques, and a part-time retirement may improve the stress management of older teachers.     

Impact of computer training courses on reduction of loneliness of older people in Finland and Slovenia

Previous research has shown loneliness as a threat for the quality of life of older people; therefore the goal of the intervention in a quasi-experimental study was to evaluate and discuss the self-reported level of loneliness of older people in Finland and Slovenia before and after a computer intervention. Intervention in a quasi-experimental study was conducted among 58 older participants at the baseline (M = 72.4 years) and 45 older participants at the follow-up research study (M = 72.9 years). Inferential statistics showed a significant difference in the reduction of loneliness between the countries, and a decreased level of loneliness of older people after completing the computer training course. Although older people experience many age-related problems which may reduce their interest in learning information and communication technology (ICT) skills, it is important that they are computer-proficient, because computer engagement can reduce the level of loneliness of older people and in this way has a positive effect on their quality of life.     

Enhanced production of isoamyl acetate from beet molasses with addition of fusel oil by Williopsis saturnus var. saturnus

Fusel oil which contains high level of amyl alcohols (approximately 45–55%) is a by-product obtained from the distillation of alcohol made by fermentation of molasses. Williopsis saturnus is a yeast which is able to convert isoamyl alcohol into isoamyl acetate. The aim of this study was to increase the formation of isoamyl acetate by the addition of fusel oil at the ratios of 1%, 2% and 3% (v/v) to molasses based fermentation medium using W. saturnus. It was found out that bioconversion of added fusel oil into isoamyl acetate was possible and an addition of 1% fusel oil led to an increase in isoamyl acetate concentration from 118 to 354 mg/L.     

Influences of 2.5wt% Mn addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Cu-Al-Ni shape memory alloys

The influences of 2.5wt%Mn addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the Cu-11.9wt%Al-3.8wt%Ni shape memory alloy(SMA) were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy(SEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),and differential scanning calorimeter(DSC).The experimental results show that Mn addition influences considerably the austenite-martensite transformation temperatures and the kind of martensite in the Cu-Al-Ni alloy.The martensitic transformation changes from a mixedβ_1→β'_1...